I am happy to announce that I have more good news in our family. Alison and Brit (my DIL) are kinda like a package deal. When Josh and Bristol starting dating many moons ago, Josh worked with Alison. So ever since Bristol came into our lives, Alison has been right there beside her. We adopted her right along with Bristol. We are very proud of her for being there for Brit when her mother left and being such a wonderful big sister. Finally all the bad things that happened to these two girls is finally in their past and they are moving on with their lives. Alison graduated Dental Hygiene school in April, passed her boards with flying colors and fought the hard job market. She got a wonderful job last week. Last night her boyfriend of 6 years proposed!!!! She wants me to help her plan her wedding. So I have until April 10, 2010 to get another daughter married.

Yeah right Erin and Sarah. She has a spazzed out chi (opie) so I would have to work on him to.

This one is going to be a little bigger than Josh and Bristol's. 100-150 people. Corey has a very large family. It is going to be a little tougher. Now that Bristol is out of town she is going to have to plan a lot on the weekends. Corey's mom is going to help (I HOPE) since she is paying for this one.

The only thing I know so far is the color she wants is Wisteria (lavender).

I am very proud of my kids. Josh wasn't the easiest teenager in the world but since the day a school superintendant looked me in the eye and said "That boy will never amount to anything, you need to give up on him" I think he has come a long way. It just gave me the incentive to fight that much harder for my child. Look at him today. He has a very successful job, has excelled and been promoted many times and is one of the best Daddy's and husbands I know.

Bristol and Alison being were abandoned by their mother and told they needed to quit school and deal with it. Each stayed in school, graduated with honors and are moving on without the one who they needed the most. They have both shown true courage to not let others knock them off their feet. Each has a special place in my heart for not giving up and letting such a traumatizing situation hold them back.

Don't ever give up on your kids, be there for them when they need you and tell them how proud you are of them everyday. A little self esteem goes a long way.

madremissy wrote: since the day a school superintendant looked me in the eye and said "That boy will never amount to anything, you need to give up on him"

I hope you slapped him. Perhaps I am naieve, but I don't give up easily on dogs... how do you give up on a kid?

I think he has come a long way. It just gave me the incentive to fight that much harder for my child. Look at him today. He has a very successful job, has excelled and been promoted many times and is one of the best Daddy's and husbands I know.

Good for him... and good for you.

Bristol and Alison being were abandoned by their mother and told they needed to quit school and deal with it.

again... ok, I grew up in a small middle class town, small public school about 100 per grade, highly rated, etc... I can't imagine the school telling any students to just leave, no matter what the circumstances. My dad had to relocate his job my junior year of high school, and the school was helping my parents find me a place to live so that I would be able to finish high school there. My school also called your house when you didn't show up by second period.

Don't ever give up on your kids, be there for them when they need you and tell them how proud you are of them everyday.

absolutely!

A little self esteem goes a long way.

so does a swift kick in the pants... Both sure did me good growing up!

Michelle

Inside me is a thin woman trying to get out. I usually shut the bitch up with a martini.

Karma is a bitch for that super. Dr. Dean was his name. One year later he found himself in an orange jumpsuit. Was charged with child pornography and was the embarrassment of the town.

I made my mistakes as a mother and I will go to my grave with guilt but I did the best thing I knew for Josh. Bristol was a big influence on him turning himself around. She stood her ground and has never turned back.

Let me clarify. The school didn't tell Brit and Alison to quit, their mother and some family members did! Said they needed to start earning their way. Even though she went off her way and is the town crack addict and lives off her parents with her crack head boyfriend. Alison had just turned 17 and a senior in high school, Brit was fifteen and a sophmore. Alison worked at night and went to school in the day. They were both bounced around from family to "so called" family. Alison was finally making enough to get a small apartment. After she graduated her job took her to 3 counties away. Brit had to stay in Pike county. Josh and Brit had been dating about a year when one night he begged me to go get Bristol from a relatives house. I didn't know why but when I drove up to 3 cop cars and fighting in the front yard I took her home with me. I never took her back and nobody came a calling for her so Travis and I claimed her as our own. Our main goal was to give her some stability and she was to graduate from high school.

It sounds like you did an amazing job of helping those girls when they needed it the most. They must be really terrific, determined young ladies. They are very, very blessed to have you and Travis (and you to have them, I'm sure).

Oh Diana, Travis and I are far from that. Thanks for the compliment.I have many things in my past that I am not proud of but I learned. I just think that when you give people your word about something it should be kept. Yes you will make mistakes but don't give up on your kids for your own selfish reasons. Sorry this sounds like a vent from me but I just see the damage that their mother has caused those kids and it just pisses me off to no end. Any back on topic.